1. The Importance of Bar Models

2. Session Contents What are ‘bar models’? How can bar models be used?
How can bar models be introduced?
What do bar models look like across key stages?

3. Discussion
What do bar models look like?
Why are bar models used?

4. What Are Bar Models? 16 9 7 9 16 7 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

5. 5 x 4 = ? 20 : A Consistent Picture 2 of 20 = ? 4 + 11 = ? 5
Share 20 in the ratio 2:3 20 : 4
= ? 4 ? 11
5 x 4 = ?

6. A Consistent Picture 4 11 ? 4 15 ? 4 ? ? 20 20 ? 20 ? 4 + 11 = ?
= ? 4 15 ?
5 x 4 = ? 4 ?
20 ÷ 5 = ? ? 20
2 of 20 = ? 5 20 ?
Share 20 in the ratio 2:3 20 ?

7. What are the positives and negatives of using bar models?
Discussion
What are the positives and negatives of using bar models?

8. The importance of bar modelling
“Instead of relying on superficial and unreliable clues like key words, the simple visual diagrams help children understand why the appropriate operations make sense.”
Beckmann 2014
“Although bar models will not always help children carry out required calculations, they are clearly designed to help children decide which operations to use.”
Beckmann 2014
“When children have experience and exposure to many concrete materials, they are able to develop the ability to visualise”
Ban Har 2016
“Model drawing trains children to think analytically, providing an important transition between the concrete and the abstract.”
Forsten 2014
“Bar models are a tool to help children visualise stories”
Ban Har 2016

9. Introducing Bar Models

10. Introducing Bar Models in EYFS

11. Show me… There are six glasses of apple juice
Hannah has more than five friends
Sam has more conkers than Tom

12. KS1 bar modelling

13. KS1 Bar Modelling
Tim has 4 sweets and Ben has 2 sweets. How many sweets do they have altogether? 6 6 6 6 6
Tim
Tim
Ben
Ben
Tim 4
Tim
Ben
Tim 4
Ben
Ben 2

14. Small steps
4 + 2 = 6

15. KS2 barmodelling

16. KS2 Bar Modelling Model Calculations 300g 300 ÷ 5 = 60 60 60 60 60 60
Solve… Matthew has a 300g block of cheese. He eats 2 5 of the cheese and puts the rest back in the fridge. How much cheese did Matthew put back in the fridge?
Model
Calculations
300g
300 ÷ 5 = 60 60 60 60 60 60
3 x 60 = 180
Eats
Put back ?
180

17. KS3 Bar Modelling a a a 4 a 4 8 3a + 4 = a + 8 Model Calculations 3a
2a =
÷ ÷2
a =

18. KS3 Bar Modelling a a 3 a 4 7 Solve 2a + 3 = a + 7 2a + 3 = a + 7 -a-3 -3 a 4 7
a = 4

19. Primary Mathematics volume 6B
Word problem
Raju had 3 times as much money as Gopal. After Raju spent $60 and Gopal spent $10, they each had equal amount of money. How much money did Raju have at first?
Model
Calculations
$10
$50
$75 ?
50 ÷ 2 = 25
Raju
$25
$25
$25
3 x 25 = 75
$60
Gopal
$10
Primary Mathematics volume 6B